Hot Politics and Sailing far away

A couple of nights ago I watched a documentary entitled "Hot Politics" on PBS. It blew my mind. If you care about the environment you'll want to see it. It chronicles how the US government denied, covered-up and censured the nation's top scientists from releasing scientific evidence that proved 10 years ago what we now know - that climate change is real and progressing faster than any of us could have ever predicted. If you're one of the three people left on earth that still denies climate change is real, well, nothing at this point will ever convince you this is really happening and good luck to you... but for everyone else, check out http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hotpolitics/ to learn more and watch the doc online.

In happier news, we got an email from 2 of our best friends who are currently in the Bahamas. These two are living out every person's dream of escaping the stressed-out mundane existance most of us call "life". About 6 months ago, they both left their jobs in Portland OR, sold their house and most of their possessions, flew to Miami, then sailed to the Bahamas, and are beginning their epic journey of sailing up the east coast in their 40-ft sailboat. Their journey will end in Newfoundland, where they will settle in their native village to run the family jam factory (awww, how quaint). Their blog chronicles their adventures so far and is at http://www.darktickle.com/bedlamerblog.aspx. I was filled with jealousy reading it and made Eugene promise we could quit our jobs, sell the house, buy an Airstream and travel the country before settling down in Canada (I know, we're cheating with the airstream but can you imagine 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 huskies sailing the open seas? - talk about rough waters).

Tornado Alley

There's supposed to be a tornado ripping through Wichita today. We do live in "Tornado Alley" so it's not really a shock to have tornadoes here (there were 8 twisters that touched down in Kansas last night), but they rarely come through the city. You can always tell when it's ripe tornado conditions. The air is really humid, it's eerily quiet and still, and the cloud-covered sky turns a creepy greenish color. I've never actually seen one, but we got to see a "Wall cloud" a couple of years ago (followed by a flash flood that we got caught in), and we've had sirens go off in the city before and headed to the basement at work to huddle like dumb sheep ("do you know if it touched down?", "no, do YOU know?"). The meteorology systems here are pretty amazing - you can go online and see the "super cells" forming and coming closer, and closer - they can pinpoint these suckers down to the minute they touch down. Funny thing is, I'm not worried so much about Euge or the kids (we all have tornado shelters where we are), but our poor dogs. We didn't check the weather before we left and they are outside today - I hope they are smart enough to take care of themselves. Though with nicknames like "Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum"- I have my doubts .

I am Pilot, hear me roar

Eugene will be getting his Private Pilot's liscence in a couple of months. He envisions weekends full of the family happily flying around the great plains of the midwest (aka - lots of fields). I envision weekends of terror that every flight in that little deathtrap of steel may be my last. See, I'm not afraid of flying - I have no problem with boarding commercial jets and looking up the aisle to catch a brief glimpse of the official-looking captain with his official-looking wings pin and hat. I trust him based on looks and ignorance - good enough for me. My problem is I've never actually seen my husband fly and only know him as the laid-back jokester that wears t-shirts and shorts when he goes "flying" and jumps 2 feet in the air when he sees a spider (which I'll be combing the inside of any plane for before flying in it with him). As a lead flight-test engineer Euge is actually over-qualified to be flying around in a dinky-little Cessna -which is my other major problem - these so-called "planes" are nothing more than old K-cars with wings. I guess putting your life in your spouse's hands is always a little scary and requires a leap of faith. But I guess that's what marriage is in a nutshell. I love the guy and have to trust he knows what he's doing. Maybe I'll ask him to wear his flight suit, don a hat and change his name to Brad - that may do the trick.

Lost on an island...

Lost is on tonight...You know life is getting pretttttyyy Laaamme when this is the highlight of the week. I don't watch a lot of TV so the fact that I got sucked into the show from the start and still watch it is an accomplishment (adult ADD alert). The best part is that Euge and I both love it - how often do couples agree on a show they like?

The show deals with a lot of issues that transcend into real life - there's no real "good" or "evil" people (yes, Mr. Bush, it's true), there are no "happy endings" at the end of every show, people can be selfish and mean and then change, or vice versa, and sometimes survival is the only thing that really matters - even if it's just clinging to a dim hope or memory of past happiness to get you through the day.

Living in the States can be hard - you're bombarded with paranoia, greed, war, incompetant conservative windbag (OK... I've got to stop) leaders who think they know what's best for the rest of the world, random shootings that kill college kids, and now we have the fact that the environment is going to hell in a handbasket to contend with. Why in the world would we choose to live here? Trust me, I watch Lost every week, and that island looks better and better - there's no money, pollution, computers (wow, they MUST have a lot of free time), cell phones, birthday parties, bad bosses, and People Magazines (it's like a car crash...I can't look away!!). If I could escape my problems and live on an island commune-style with my family and friends for a year, I'd take it! (I'd take the black smoke monster any day over some of my co-workers).

FaceBook

I discovered Facebook about a month ago - man what a mistake. This little gem must be responsible for a nosedive in productivity for companies across the world (case in point I'm at work right now!!). You can find people that you haven't spoken to in years and Bam! there they are, with all their info right there for you to pry into. There's photo albums, thoughts, postings, and, of course the best part - all their "friends" who you might know and can invite to to be "your friend" too and on and on and all of a sudden you've got this re-incarnated world of people you knew throughout your life and you're all together again and...it's really cool but really weird too. You start getting invites from people you don't remember knowing at all, and then you start becoming obsessed with finding everyone and anyone you ever knew (not me of course - I'm way too cool for that). There's suddenly no point communicating with real people at all- all your "friends" are right there - you get updates when someone's written on your wall, updated their photo album, altered their preferences, became friends with someone else - and they get the same when you update your site (how can I change my musical preferences without everyone knowing and thinking I must be doing it to look hipper when it's true!!!). I need to take a little break from this craziness.... right after I search for a long lost friend who still owes me money!!

Easter O.D.

This Easter wasn't the same with Euge in the Philippines - it is SO far away and I haven't heard from him in like 3 days (I envision him riding one of those crazy-looking Jeepnie bus-thingies through villages with lots of fumes and noise and general overcrowded merriment). In an effort to make Easter OK for the kids I bought them presents, chocolate, candy, an ice-cream cake and the obligatory Easter clothes for church. I had our friends Adam and Jill over for brunch (see picture), who we all love and are so grateful to have. See in Kansas, most people have their immediate and extended families here - there aren't a lot of translplants like us here (go figure) so the family-as-friends clan that you find in bigger cities doesn't really apply here. Adam and Jill don't have immediate family here either AND they are very cool. They also brought over their friend Langston who I immediately liked because he offered to walk the dogs - gotta love someone who's willing to work for food!! We had a great meal and lots of mimosa's and chocolate and by the time everyone left the kids and I passed out (ahem...I mean "napped") for a good 2 hours...gotta love the true meaning of Easter: Eat/Drink,Pray,and Love.

The Kids

I thought it's about time I pay homage to my kiddos, Joshua and Genevieve. My husband's in the Philippines for 2 weeks and whenever he travels I find myself growing very close with my kids. We endure more frustration and chaos together due to me being more rushed and disorganized than usual, but we also cuddle more and I usually let them away with more than normal (SpongeBob during the week, 2 desserts after dinner, guilt toys). I love them more than I could have ever imagined loving anything (sorry dogs), and all of us have become a tight little unit out here alone in the middle of the country. I constantly worry about how they're doing and will draw blood on anyone that harms them (that includes the little 2-year old that shoved Genevieve off the jungle gym a couple of weeks ago - I swear Euge had to hold me back). Euge is also a great dad and his presence is really missed when he's away. In thinking of what direction my life will take in the future, they are always at the forefront and it's impossible to seperate the two. Here's to kids and all that they teach us:
- There are "Big Deals" and "Little Deals" - decide which one is which and act accordingly.
- Having Superpowers is an attainable goal and career choice.
- Elmo is God
- Taking baths and pooping detract from playtime and should be avoided at all cost
- Milk is to be spilled at least once a day
- Learn what compliments work and use them in times of hostility - "mommy I know I shouldn't have emptied out the pepper grinder all over the kitchen table but you're hair is so pretty and I love your flowers."
- If you can make me laugh, you're the best.

Eye Candy

We have an electrician working in the boardroom that looks like Leonardo DiCaprio. So far I've found the following reasons to wander in:
- getting paper coffee cups
- getting styrofoam coffee cups (it's a seperate trip of course)
- emptying out boxes and re-filling new ones (same paper, just swapping boxes).
- setting up for a board meeting (the only legit reason)
I've tried to think of ways to get a picture of him without it being suspicious but how could it NOT be? I'm open to suggestions.

Tanning

I think the Us magazine I read over the weekend went to my head, but seeing all those celebs with their sun-kissed cheeks and healthy-looking skin got to me. See, I'm going to Las Vegas in 6 weeks with my sister (who is my favorite chick in the world and the funnest person I could imagine going to Vegas with) and I need some ammo if I'm going to be lounging aroung the pool in a 2-piece. You know the old adage "if you can't hide it, tan it." So I head over to the tanning salon around the corner during my lunch break. Now, I haven't been in a tanning bed since I was 11 and my mom owned one in her shop - we went to Florida during Spring Break and my mom believed that a couple a sessions before we left would develop "a good base" and help prevent major burns (I still burnt). And I'm a natural fair skinned red-head. I admit I'm envious of my husband and kids's skin (Eugene's Philippino - Canadian) - why should they always get to look like they've just been in the south pacific surfing when I look like I've been locked in the basement for 9 months straight? So...I walk into the tanning salon and am greeted by a super-tanned brunette. she proceeds to show me around and describe the various tanning beds - the high-tech ones all look like neon-glowing alien pods. I nod along in ignorance and then look at the tanning "menu" - Super-tan girl really recommends the "Beach baby" package - for $60 a month you get unlimited tanning - all you do is sign an easy 12-month contract with automatic bankdraft!! I smile sweetly and tell her that I want to have a little "color" when I get to Vegas, not look like I've been dipped in a Turkey Deep Fryer. So, I'll try a free session on Friday and let you know how it goes one question though- Do you wear underwear? I don't want to term "firecrotch" to be literal. ouch...